9/
SECRET
SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 18090OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 591
OF 171236Z JUNE 93
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
110
166620
MDHOAN 4428
PERSONAL FOR PS/GH
GOS,
YOUR TELNO 972: WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON
1 WE HAVE CONSULTED MINISTERS WHO ARE CONTENT FOR THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE DELAYED UNTIL THREE WEEKS AFTER THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN INFORMED. MR GOODLAD IS PREPARED TO CALL IN THE CHINESE CHARGE ON 28 JUNE IF OPD (K) AGREE TO THE PAPER. WE WILL COPY A DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE TO YOU AND COPY ADDRESSEES IN DUE COURSE.
"
2. MOD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONSULT THEIR MINISTERS IN TIME FOR THIS TELEGRAM. THEY WILL GIVE YOU THEIR VIEWS IN TIME FOR THE EXCO MEETING. AT OFFICIAL LEVEL THEY ACCEPT THAT THERE WILL NEED TO BE A THREE WEEK DELAY BEFORE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT AND ARE BROADLY CONTENT WITH THE PROPOSED LINE TO TAKE SAVE FOR ONE MINOR NUANCE. THEY ARGUE THAT IF WE WERE TO STRESS THE POINT IN PARA 3 A) OF TUR OF THE ENORMOUS PRESSURES ON BRITISH FORCES ELSEWHERE, IT WOULD DIMINISH THE IMPRESSION THAT THE DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS THE CULMINATION OF A MEASURED PERIOD OF PLANNING. ALTHOUGH SOME ON THE CHINESE SIDE MAY SYMPATHISE WITH THIS CAND THEY WILL CERTAINLY FIND IT MORE ACCEPTABLE THAN ANY SUGGESTION THAT THE DECISION IS DUE TO PRESSURE FROM LEGCO), THE MOD BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE USED IN A LOW KEY MANNER, AND PREFERABLY ONLY AS A DEFENSIVE RESPONSE TO A QUESTION WHY THE WITHDRAWAL CANNOT BE DELAYED. THEIR STRONG WISH IS THAT THIS LINE SHOULD NOT/NOT BE USED PUBLICLY.
HURD
YYYY
HKA 063/1
RECE
2 8 JU!: 1993
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